With over 900+ broadcasts written by various authors and directors of their time, Suspense is a conglomeration of some of the most acclaimed old time radio shows that graced the airwaves from the years 1942 until 1962.
Suspense was a radio series broadcasted on the CBS Radio Network in the early 1940’s that featured many of the era’s famous Hollywood stars. Most notable among them are the highly talented Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Orson Welles and Marlene Dietrich to name a few.
Living up to its name, majority of the program’s episodes were dedicated to the thriller and mystery genre wherein the protagonist was usually thrown into strange and unusual circumstances that seemingly had no resolution. Miraculously, a means of salvation would somehow manifest towards the finale to illustrate the triumph of good over evil.
Suspense is one of the classics of old time radio. Some fans have special favorites in the thriller/chiller/macabre genre, but all will agree that Suspense did it best. The guiding light of this show was William Spier, who developed the formula into a human drama that attracted the finest of Hollywood's elite as well as the cream of radio's great actors.
Orson Welles was in many episodes, and Cary Grant was quoted in 1943, "If I ever do any more radio work, I want to it on Suspense, where I get a good chance to act." Spier's method with his show's stars was to keep them under-rehearsed, somewhat uneasy. In Suspense, as it were. He got great performances, and the show gained greater and greater popularity.
The Roma Wine sponsorship in 1943 allowed the show to create works that are a lasting part of the old time radio entertainment experience. All the production values were first class. The great Bernard Hermann did the musical scores. He previously had worked with Orson Welles in his Mercury Theater series, and went on to do of Alfred Hitchcock film fame. Lucian Moraweck did many of the greatest episode scores.
The "Man in Black" is your host, reminding one of the many thriller show presenters, but Suspense was the best of the bunch, and never did the show lapse into over-the-top melodrama. William Spier was so deft in his weaving of the spell of Suspense, he was dubbed "the Hitchcock of the airwaves."
The Suspense anthology marked the end of the golden age of radio drama as the 1960’s gave birth to other forms of more colorful entertainment. Relive the glory days of old time radio and hear Suspense! Click here to read more about Suspense
- Radio Shows
- Comments
- Photos
Please enjoy these 914 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
---|---|---|---|
05.12.1952 | the missing person |
+ "The Missing Person". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A magazine writer attempts to track down a missing... | |
05.19.1952 | the flight of the bumblebee |
+ "The Flight Of The Bumblebee". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An exciting ride on a crippled B-29, retu... | |
05.26.1952 | the death of me |
+ "The Death Of Me". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A man working in a remote lumber camp witnesses a mur... | |
06.02.1952 | a good and faithful servant |
+ "A Good and Faithful Servant". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After thirty years on the job, a meek dep... | |
06.09.1952 | concerto for killer and eyewitness |
+ "A Good and Faithful Servant". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. After thirty years on the job, a meek dep... | |
09.22.1952 | jack ketch |
+ WMT, Cedar Rapids Iowa aircheck. "Jack Ketch". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of the royal ha... | |
09.29.1952 | vidocqs final case |
+ "Vidocq's Last Case". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. France's greatest detective, himself a former crim... | |
10.06.1952 | the diary of dr pritchard |
+ "The Diary Of Dr. Pritchard". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of the most infamous poisoner th... | |
10.13.1952 | how long is the night |
+ "How Long Is The Night". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An excellent story about a U. S. soldier left a... | |
10.20.1952 | death of barbara allen |
+ "The Death Of Barbara Allen". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An excellent radio production based on an ... | |
10.27.1952 | alan in wonderland |
+ "Allen In Wonderland". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A southern lawyer in New York quotes a bit of Lew... | |
11.03.1952 | frankenstein |
+ "Frankenstein". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The classic story about a scientist who creates a man, t... | |
11.10.1952 | frightened city |
+ "The Frightened City". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A soldier returns home to find that his brother-i... | |
11.17.1952 | death and miss turner |
+ "Death and Miss Turner". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. An artist paints four portraits of a man with n... | |
11.24.1952 | mann alive |
+ "Man Alive". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Paul Douglas gives an excellent performance in a cold war t... | |
12.01.1952 | the big heist |
+ "The Big Heist". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The best bank buster in the business takes on a new man... | |
12.08.1952 | jokers wild |
+ "Joker Wild". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Harry's a very funny guy, and that's just the problem! He ... | |
12.15.1952 | man with two faces |
+ "The Man With Two Faces". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A three year old corpse found in a packing cas... | |
12.22.1952 | artic rescue |
+ "Arctic Rescue". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well told chronicle of an early voyage of exploration... | |
12.29.1952 | melody in dreams |
+ "Melody In Dreams". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. When a father makes a citizen's arrest of his own da... | |
01.05.1953 | the mystery of edwin drood ep01of02 |
+ "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood" Part One. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-done adaptation of the fam... | |
01.12.1953 | the mystery of edwin drood ep02of02 |
+ "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood" Part Two. Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Where is Mr. Jasper's favorite ne... | |
01.19.1953 | gold of the adomar |
+ "Gold Of The Adomar". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. A well-written, exciting story about a treasure hu... | |
01.26.1953 | the spencer brothers |
+ "The Spencer Brothers". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. The story of three bank robbers and killers, and... | |
02.02.1953 | plan x |
+ "Plan X". Sponsored by: Auto-Lite. Zeno the Martian is sent to meet the first rocket from Earth t... |
Mike
Jerry
John
Peggie
Dave
Daniel
Daniel
John
Michael
Kristi
Travis
Dan
Michael
Tommy
Jim
Robert
Joe
Jay
Russ
David
Dale
David
Kenneth
Jamie
Archie
Scott
David
Mark
Rick
Annette
John
Mike
Damian
Randy
Kim
Joe
Steve Hodel
SUSPENSE
Martin
Lynne
Dan
Bert
SM
Norma
Judy
Leave a comment